Well any time there is a "settlement" involved, there is usually something going on that wasn't justified...

Sick as it gets

That is what happens when you cut police budgets ---- you get quality officers like this who go off their meds from time to time.

Canon 2792132 - there are other sources of news besides MSNBC. Unfortunately, this cop isn't the only one who is trigger happy in the state of Arizona. It goes on quite regularly. The cops here are gun happy and won't think twice before they shoot you.

Judas-1953669 - If you had read the entire article, you would know that "Afterward, detectives determined that Loxas wasn't armed. ". That means he was UNARMED, he was not holding a baby AND a gun at the time he was killed.

Really, did you read the article or what? It reads "Afterward, detectives determined that Loxas wasn't armed." You are part of the problem, not part of the solution. Maybe, he won't flinch when he meets you.

@Canon Don't you think people would take you a little more seriously if you didn't bring your opinions about "liberals" to the post?

Just like Michael Jackson "settled" with the families of little boys he let sleep in his bed. After the first few, you'd think it's not just a coincidence, and he might just be a pedophile. He has killed 6 people over 10 years? Give me a break. The guy has to stop somewhere.

This guy is a psychopath who has no business being on a police force.

.

Half the story, cannon? He shot an unarmed guy with a baby in his hands, after the guy opened the door to his house. He's a redneck with a badge and gun.

@Judas - No he was not "apparently holding a baby and a gun." The story explicitly states Mr. Loxas was not armed.

Edited to add that I see you responded to someone upthread about that word "apparently." Are you saying it appeared that Mr. Loxas had a gun? All the story says is Officer Peters thought he saw something, not identifying what that something was.

if i am reading the story correctly he is a swat officer probably a sharp shooter which would explain why he is in these type situations so often...

Judas, don't be facetious; you know exactly what I was asking.

As Mr. Loxas was in his home when the officers arrived he was not still walking around the neighborhood with a baby in his arms and a cocked pistol in his hand. Apparently the neighbor saw a gun; the officers apparently saw something, or said they did, but apparently that something was not a gun, nor was it a weapon.

And seeing your edit it seems your dictionary has a different definition for the word apparent.

"The story explicitly states Mr. Loxas was not armed."

Which was determined AFTER THE FACT. Ain't Monday-morning quarterbacking wonderful?

I think he's using a little team effort ....

His fellow officer yells out "he's got a weapon" ....

Then "POW" ....

Supposedly justified ....

Judas-1953669, so that gives this trash of an officer the right to put a bullet in his head? An unarmed man, shot dead because a cop "thought" he had "something" in his hand. Give me a break.

Cop or no cop..this guy is trigger happy..needs to see a doctor.

Or flags will fly at half staff sooner then he thinks for himself.

Reminds me of that movie Lethal Weapon with Gibson as a wacked out cop.

So this man was murdered simply for kicking over a trash can. This cop murdered a man in cold blood and put the life of a baby at risk all because of a gawddamn trash can! This cop needs to be facing the death penalty for outright and cold blooded murder.

@Rich, The fact that he was a S.W.A.T. member has nothing to do with it. How many other cops, S.W.A.T or not, have killed so frequently? It isn't justified simply because the guy was "supposedly" armed. I could easily call the cops on you because I don't like you and I could say you were "armed" and "threatening" me; does that give the cops the right to come into your house and shoot you point blank while you're holding a kid? it says: "At least one of the officers thought he saw something in the suspect's hands." That ONE officer was the same officer who has shot 7 people, 6 fatal shots, over a course of 10 years! Because that's totally acceptable... How much blood does he get to have on his hands until someone pulls the plug on him?

The guy IS Dirty Harry.

A prudent officer should be able to sort through all of the misinformation, at all times, no matter where it is coming from.

This shooting is a disgrace!

Sara, READ THE STORY. At the moment the shot was taken two officers, one of which was Peters, said they thought he had something in his hands. They are not trained to shoot to wound, they are trained to eliminate the threat. You, if you have any case to make here, should be upset with the system that trains him this way. I, on the other hand, figure that if the cops tell me to put the kid down and lay down on the ground I had better do it, particularly after I just had a threatening encounter with a neighbor.

Second, PLEASE READ THE STORY. It says nothing about a point blank shooting. It says he had a rifle that he used. Had it been point blank he would not have had a rifle in his hands given it is not as wieldly as a pistol in close quarters.

Third, READ THE STORY. The cops didn't enter his house. The man opened the door, then something which we are not made aware of must've happened, and then the man turned around, presumably to go back inside.

Fourth, READ THE STORY. There is no mention of how many other cops in the USA have been involved in 7 shootings with 6 kills. That might make an intersting story, but it isn't part of this one. I don't know the answer to the question, but I do know my step-sister's BF for years was part of our SWAT team in this area and he was involved in several shootings. How many kills I do not know, and he didn't like to talk about it.

Now, imagine for just a minute that the door closed and then we heard a shot, then another, and the baby was dead along with the grandfather. Would that have been a better outcome?

The ONLY thing you have gotten right in this discussion so far is that the cops have no right to shoot someone simply because there is a caller that says that person was armed and a threat. The cops have to make their own determination on site as to whether the person involved posed a continuing threat, was concealing a weapon or had it in the open, and so on. From all we know from THIS STORY we can only infer that Loxas did not follow orders and was believed to be a threat.

Geesus.

I read every post here, good and bad, but the post by takenaka is the most pathetic of all.

This is what happens when you have neighbors who "thrive" on drama. I think the neighbor who called 911 should be questioned along with others who "saw something" in his hand. Wish my eyes were that sharp after dark....just sayin'.......check out the idiot neighbors next, then send this over-zealous cop somewhere else.....I hear Mexico is hiring.

Judas-1953669:

Thank you, I managed to miss the "justified" part.

And before someone says anything, "mass murderer" should have been "serial killer". I got my nutjobs mixed up for a second.

Another innocent victim of a shooting in AZ, not at all surprised. Least of all that a cop in AZ shot first and checked his facts afterward. You wanted an armed populace, well, you got it. One of the consequences is that the police will tend to believe that EVERYONE is armed and dangerous, particularly when they are carrying around babies. Stinky diapers are lethal weapons.

Zheng He, this is what I love about people like you: if we don't see it your way - your pistol packing, locked and loaded way - we're not "true Americans." Because all you "true Americans" know there is one and ONLY one way to think, feel and believe. That whitewash uniformity of thought is the only thing that qualifies someone as a "true American." And all this time, "phony Americans" like me have been thinking that individualism and openness to alternative beliefs was consistent with American ideals. I stand corrected.

Lets keep this in perspective. Even if this guy was "holding" a gun in his hand on his own property, why is that grounds to kill him immediately? Was he threatening the officer or the child? I don't think so. The guy answers the door of his home. That doesn't sound very threatening yet, in fact it sounds compliant. They saw something in his hand and assumed it was a gun, a gun not being used to threaten, but an imagined gun in his possession. So pop a cap in his head?

What if the kid falls and splits his skull? What if the neighbor was making a false claim because he didn't like the guy? There's a lot of what ifs. The shooter has a rifle zeroed in on this guy's head when the guy comes to the door. Who was in danger? Sounds like it's Granpa. The guy didn't threaten the child, he alledgedly threatened the neighbor. Did he threaten the cops or the kid? What did he threaten them with? Was he going to have the grandson spit up on them? So the guy had guns in his house? It was in Arizona! Who there doesn't. Sorry, shooting unjustified, no doubt about it.

Thank you Rich-281385 for making VALID, Intelligent points. I agree with you 100%. People on here are so quick to judge, and yes there is no question in my mind that MSNBC purposely tweaked this story just enough to make it look like the Cop was the bad guy. They do it ALL the time. I would rather have Officer Peters watching my back than most of the people who come on Newsvine. Unless you've been in this situation you can't judge. if they gave him instructions and he didn't comply, if they could not see what or IF he had anything in his hand, the officer responded as he should have. truthfully we really don't know exactly what happened because in addition to being rather shady, this grandfather could have been making threats, etc. so you just can't judge it and those of you who are trying to crucify and judge this cop....well you shouldn't without knowing the whole story. I'd like to see how many of you would get along without the actions of Officers like this.

What happened to negotiation? Since when is it ok to shoot a man holding a baby - what if he turned right at the moment the shot was taken and he hit the baby? Was he given the ok to shoot by his superior? The "I thought he had something in his hand" is a standard cover-up phrase. I guess one less trouble maker around. I don't see any reason to shoot if no one is being threatened - main reason for using deadly force. We will have to what for the investigation to find the truth !

There definitely is some thin skinned.... and thick headed people here tonight.

What a POS. I didn't know that the gym teacher from Beavis and Butthead was in law enforcement too.

@Rich, I READ THE STORY. The article states: "At least one of the officers thought he saw something in the suspect's hands." I didn't read "two" anywhere. And even so, wouldn't you think that another one would fess up to "seeing something in his hands" just to help cover up for him? That's usually how it goes...
You can't assume there is a threat based on a call from an annoyed neighbor! Therefore shooting to "eliminate" a "threat" based on an assumption has no grounds!

I was speaking HYPOTHETICALLY. Hence the sentence "I could easily call the cops on you because I don't like you and I could say you were "armed" and "threatening" me." It was an exaggerated, hypothetical statement to make a point.

And interestingly enough, you haven't heard about any other cops who have been involved in 7 shootings and 6 killings in the past 10 years. Because if there had been more, I'm sure MSNBC would have posted an article about them, too!

Nobody asked you about your "step-sister's BF" so as far as I'm concerned that statement is irrelevant as well, if you're complaining about my "irrelevance!" Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?

And your last statement? "Now, imagine for just a minute that the door closed and then we heard a shot, then another, and the baby was dead along with the grandfather. Would that have been a better outcome?"

Also an assumption and pure speculation.

ah, arizona!spent 25 yrs living there.they have the same mentality they had in the 1860's!shoot em up cowboy's! if this guy did'nt have a badge, he'd be considered a serial killer!thought he had a weapon, yea right! send this clown to prison for homicide!the guy was holding his grandson,lucky there's not two dead people! this cop enjoy's killing!!!!!

@Sara. Just because there is a settlement, doesn't mean there's liability. Lawyers drive up costs by continuing to file personal injury/wrongful death lawsuits in the hopes that someone who holds the purse strings will relent and offer something. This is what happens when lawyers charge for a percentage of the settlement. The plaintiff in these cases is not out a penny if the case does not settle or if a judge/jury finds for the defendants. meanwhile, the defense still pays lawyers etc to defend these suits.

What causes lawyers to spend hours and hours on these cases? Juries with bleeding hearts. Juries like the one who awarded a woman 4 million because she spilled hot coffee on herself.

Personally, I think plaintiff's who lose at trial need to be responsible for some of the defense costs.

I hope more details of the incident become available so that we can have a better understanding of the situation. The title of the article is interesting.... did MSNBC hired someone from FOX?

For those of you who care, and don't just want to spout pro or anti gun blather, here's a fact for you.

There are at least 37 countries which have a higher per capita murder rate than the USA. I got tired of reading names to see where the USA ranks.

Fact: according to the ATF and FBI, there has NEVER been a crime committed with a LEGALLY owned automatic weapon.

Fact: you have a better chance of getting shot in Washiongton DC. than in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Update: The USA ranks fourth in gun crime. There were 9369 murders by firearm in the USA in 2010. There were 23406 homicides in 2010. That means guns were responsible for 39% of the deaths. That means 14,000 people were killed by some weapon or means other than a gun.

There are 1558 prisons in the USA, with 2.2 million residents. California, Arizona, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York,, New jersey, and Florida account for about half of the prisons.

So what else do we need to outlaw? Cars, water ( drowned on purpose), bats, knives poison, rocks, crossbows, bows, hands ( strangle and beat ). Oh where to start.

So what else do we need to outlaw?

Bobblehead dogs and non-clumping cat litter.

having been married to a police officer for 8 years. i know the normal police officer uses his gun as the last resort. this officer in scottsdale,az obviously has psychological problems he not wyatt earp he is not judge roy bean nor is he jess james. that mentally shoot first ask questions later is outdated. that officer needs to fired for several reasons...5 kills , settlements that cost the city and taxpayers, and who needs that kind of policeman any where in the u.s.?my husband has had only to draw his gun twice (he is a patrolman in very rough neighborhood)in the 8 years that we married .never shot any one... that is a heavy burden to have to shoot someone ....more so if they thought they saw a weapon... that''' loosecannon ''' is lying to cover his ass. we dont need him on the force of blue.

John George Loxas II's facebook... there is a section on about himself;

https://www.facebook.com/loxas2012/info

doesn't say much about the incident, but it does provide a glimpse of this person who was shot/killed in his own house by an Arizona police officer using a rifle.

@ Sara in Texas

Peters and another officer told investigators they saw something in Loxas' hand

This would be were he gets 'two officers', I guess you didn't read far enough down in the article. And yes, police are trained to assume a threat when they have been told the suspect has a gun, to assume otherwise could be fatal for everyone involved. Was it justifiable? I'll reserve judgment until I hear all the facts, not some first run news article run by MSNBC/NBC. After more facts are revealed, I just may agree with you, but I have found that opinions formed with little fact are frequently wrong, so I will wait until there is actual proof before I call for someone's head. Hell, I even withheld judgment on Pres. Obama. Then he proved all my deepest fears and suspicions, but that's another discussion for another day.

Shoot first, ask questions later.

Unfortunately, from the 911 call, the police had to expect an armed and dangerous man. The police are not expected to wait until someone possibly shoots them before taking defensive action. Depending on the more detailed circumstances, this will probably be considered justifiable.

Why did grandpa kick over the trash can? Why did grandpa brandish a (probably registered) firearm when the neighbor fussed about the trash can? Why was grandpa carrying his grandbaby at the same time he was brandishing a firearm? When grandpa opened the door to police was the grandbaby crying and did grandpa look upset? Not sure what events transpired that caused the police to react...but, dang, baby sitting is getting to be a challenge these days.

Condolences to the grieving family.

No point in arguing with conservatives here - by the letter of the law; they come here with pre-meditated intent to cause trouble...no hope for those types. I if they find it serves some sort of need in their life - I'd like to know what that is..so I prevent it happening to my self.

There is nothing wrong with going to say a sports site and trolling other teams sports fans - but there is no humor intended when one party (mind set) attacks another.

The Phoenix valley police has the mind set that force is the best policy - thankx to Joe Arpaio. You would think Scottsdale (snobsdale) would be a cut above the rest of the valley, but statistics to support that line of thinking. When I lived in Mesa - I looked over my shoulder everywhere I went - very high crime in the valley - so which came first - the punks in the hood, or the punks with a badge?

Want to fix crime; create some decent jobs in Arizona - this is as close to a slave State as you can get...guess who hires workers at $2.00 an hour? Worst karma in the Country in that valley....thankfully I moved to Toostoned, even with 40% illegals here, it's still far above that hell-hole to the north.

This guy should be in jail for this last trigger pull. The cops are to ready on the trigger now days cause they are scared and not well trained and fat.

ummmm He is a FORMER member of SWAT. Care for two out of three on the reading comprehension test? Guess why he's a former?

Hi Sara,

I just don't know what more to do with you. From the article, a direct quote:

"Loxas had returned home by the time police arrived, and he answered the door with the baby in his arms. Peters and another officer told investigators they saw something in Loxas' hand, and when he turned, Peters fired a single shot, killing Loxas instantaneously."

Perhaps to you this means just one officer, but I think most people who can read simple English regard "Peters and another officer" to mean two officers.

Lastly, you are not irrelevant. I didn't say you are irrelevant, and I don't think you are irrelevant. I just don't think you are very bright.

Hi drain, Burning, and the rest of the clan,

The question isn't about whether this cop was right in this shooting or not. There aren't enough facts in the story you dopes are responding to for that conclusion to be drawn. The question, at least in my mind, is about letting the investigation proceed and reach its own conclusion before we begin to assemble a hanging party. The VAST majority of the dopes on your side who've commented on this particular case know very little about it (this article is thin to say the least), but even what is in the article has been misread, or misrepresented, by these misanthropes.

If the investigation leads to the conclusion that the law was violated by this cop, then this cop should be held to account. But you and I don't have squat to go on at this point. Sara criticizes people for making assumptions like the assumption that there must've been something said after the door opened but before the shot rang out, yet this kind of assumption makes perfect sense based upon virtually every person's relationship with reality. Yet her assumption that because a governmental entity paid a family $75k for the killing of their loved one MUST mean that something sinister was afoot, despite daily evidence in every corner of this country that people are often paid just to go away since litigating the case is by far more expensive, well that one is just fine.

You people are delusional. You are hate-filled. And, quite frankly, you are all too often dense.

My Dad was a Boston Policeman for 38 years....one time,only one time,did he fire his gun on duty,when he shot the gun out of the hand of a drunk sailor.one time......

Arizona is a crazy state...crazy police, crazy wardens,and some crazy citizens, jeesh.

Sociologist by trade. If you look at the officers picture, you see how close his eyes are to his nose, a study at harvard back in the 70's represented that the closer your eyes were together represented a lower than average IQ and the inability to make sound decisions. The study concluded that eyes on level linear and farther apart bosted the highest IQ's. Interesting study, just saying, looks like he should be playing a banjo on a bridge over a arkansas river.....

Sociologist by trade. If you look at the officers picture, you see how close his eyes are to his nose, a study at harvard back in the 70's represented that the closer your eyes were together represented a lower than average IQ and the inability to make sound decisions. The study concluded that eyes on level linear and farther apart bosted the highest IQ's. Interesting study, just saying, looks like he should be playing a banjo on a bridge over a arkansas river.....

"At least one of the officers thought he saw something in the suspect's hands." yeah, a baby

This guy obviously made a huge mistake and should be punished for it, but:

Police said that as a former member of the SWAT team, Peters had been involved in the department's most dangerous assignments and that all of the previous shootings had been found to be justified.

This is buried in the story, and the headline seems to allude to something else entirely. So many kills on an average cop's record would be extremely suspect, but being on a SWAT team is a totally different story since it's your job to engage armed and hostile suspects.

I really don't think this particular headline is fair, it makes it seem like this cop was some itchy-trigger finger sort, but in reality he was SWAT for much of that time.

I think this is a case though of an itchy trigger finger due to overconfidence because of his time as a SWAT. Some of those guys tend to think they are the bee's knees and experts at everything, and get sort of in this 'everyone is a huge threat' mentality that can lead to this sort of tragedy.

Lethal force not needed here. That officer was not certain that "something" was a lethal weapon in his hand. Soon cops like this, after knocking on your door for no reason other then someone mistakenly reporting you, will just blast through your door because they think they heard a gun cocking in the back round.

MSNBC, was there any dialogue between the officer and the man holding the baby? If so, what was the conversation? More information is needed. I've seen 1 word titles with more information then this acticle.

1) This man is a police officer

2) we pay police officers to carry guns...and to use them in defense of their lives or to protect the lives of others

3) any of you are second-guessing him and his actions - why don't you become a police officer and use your superior judgement to deal with dangerous criminals in a more sensitive and non-violent manner? Any volunteers?

......(sounds of crickets chirping)

robbo - So we should just let cops off the hook when they kill an unarmed citizen? I don't think so buddy. If there were three cops at the door, they could have handled the situation if the guy decided to reach for a gun or something, I can't see the need to shoot him as soon as he moved. Hopefully the justice system will do the right thing here, because if it doesn't it will further erode the average citizens trust in the police force and the justice system itself. And when that happens, people start taking things into their own hands, and that gets ugly fast.

There is no rationalizing with the people who have already found this man to be guilty. Guilty, with no trial, not being at the scene, and reading an MSN news article about it. Quite shameful, really.

Cops have the toughest job in the world. So many people hate them for doing it, enforcing laws designed to keep us safe. More and more violent offenders blaming cops for the situations they have placed themselves in. Then the media, such as MSN, disintegrate the integrity of these people after sitting back throwing crap against the wall and see how may people they can stir up. All in the hunt for the all mighty website hit, in order to sell more advertisements at a higher dollar.

Until placed in the shoes of the men and women doing this job, please refrain from precluding guilt. You can now return to pontificating such wonderful people like Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, the Kardashians, etc.

Hey zheng he: I haven't heard much talk about "True Americans" or "Real Americans" since Palin faded from the scene. And to be really honest, I really resent those expressions.

I'm a REAL American, vote in every election, have worked all my life, paid taxes, was never on any gummint program, and, oh by the way, happen to be a liberal democrat. And a gun owner. And a property owner. So stow the real American talk.

By the way, with your name, are you a real American? Just asking.

I just googled this officer, and with a little information all of you who have been calling this man a mass murderer and a serial killer should look him up. In one of his previous shootings, at least three other officers also fired at the suspect. It also said, "The Maricopa County Attorney's Office investigated his previous shootings and ruled them justifiable. In one instance, he received the department's medal of valor for killing a suspect who was holding a store employee hostage after hijacking a doughnut truck driver." All of a sudden, he doesn't sound like a nut-job crooked cop anymore. Thanks MSNBC for giving these details as well with your sensational headline.

THANK YOU cmstubbles for doing your homework before posting, it would serve many others well to do the same.

This man acted without KNOWING all information... they assumed...or he did.... this man has a need to kill....put him behind a desk...

cmstubbles and COmommy,

What a shame it is that so many of these people KNOW he (the cop) is a nazi, or a sociopath, or bloodthirsty, or even that he was acting on a phone call to 911 alone, or whatever. Our fellow Americans often want to craft a narrative that supports their projectionist core at worst, or simply want to justify their own sense of superiority at best. It's not new, but I worry it is becoming more prevalent. The vast majority of those posting above seethe with hatred for this cop and as you wrote, cmstubbles, they know virtually nothing of him, of his past, or of this situation.

What breeds such disdain for knowledge? What fosters such vile hatred for that which they do not know? It's a damned shame that the Enlightenment has ended with these people.

He was a member of the SWAT team, Peters had been involved in the department's most dangerous assignments. This is like being one of only 2 people at work that can lift a 20lbs box, if the box breaks it wont be on the 12 that cant lift it. The call to police said the man had a gun and there was guns inside the suspects place. "We have a neighbor out here that pulled a gun on us," the caller said. "He's got a baby in his arms. He's got a gun, and he cocked it."

We where not there. Also some things that might seem innocent to civilians are ominous to LEOs. Next time you see someone pull up their pants look to see if they could reach to the small of their back where guns are often concealed. None of his kills as a SWAT team member should count against him as their job is to shoot bad guys. His SWAT training means he doesn't miss very often.

I would also like to point out there was a setlement in NY where several cops including a black cop shot a man dead who left a strip club being investigated for prostitution when it closed for the night, drove into a police car almost running over a cop who was busting hookers. The family said he was shot on his wedding day but 2am isnt daytime.

one thing that stands out here to me.......WHY was the man walking around previously with a loaded weapon AND his grandson in his hands? WHY WAS THIS A##HAT putting his grandson in such mortal danger? have any of you people condemning the officer thought about that? this clown was walking around with a loaded WEAPON and a BABY in his hands threatening people ........SEE ANYTHING WRONG HERE? now the cops go to this boneheads house and he answers the door with the baby in his hands .....why? he knew it was the cops, after what he was doing earlier ......so why have the kid in your hands knowing this? he should have known better than to play it off.......but he did......that,s why he answered the @#$%&@# door with the baby in his hand putting his grandson in mortal danger again.........and was rewarded for his completely irresponsible,stupid behavior. really the fault here is the moron with the gun, and his lack of good judgement.....had he not done what he did earlier BEFORE the cops showed up he would be alive . you want to BBQ the cop for doing his job........this man had commit-ed at the very least two felonies before the cops showed up.......endangerment of a child.......threat with a deadly weapon......yes and the officer is the criminal........ unbelievable..........

What ever happened to saying, "Drop the weapon." I realize it wasn't a weapon but if the cops thought it was they should have told him to drop it. I agree w/ Kilroy that walking around with a baby in one arm and a cocked gun in the other is criminal behavior but does it justify shooting him when he didn't even raise the gun? I don't know if Lomax had a record &/or a history of violent or dangerous behavior that the cops already knew about. I hope the baby is young enough that he won't remember this. (My husband remembers some stuff from when he was 10 mos old).

Oops, his name isn't Lomax, it's Loxas. My bad.

All we know is that a neighbor "claimed" that he was walking with the baby in his arms and that he had a gun. That's not to say that the neighbor was telling the truth.

THATS OK B, good point, maybe the cops did tell him to drop the weapon, too many times people are told to drop the weapon and they do not....loxas is to blame......not the cops....i put this on his shoulders.

Guilty of what? Making a split second decision to defend a child based on witness provided informatation and reactions form felow officers.

Your nuts.

Canon, you answered your question, he made a split second decision based on nothing definite except what "someone" said. This guy needs a desk job only. We'll have to find out how much this person alone has cost the city/county over the past 5 deaths attributed to them. Cheaper to give him a desk job or an early retirement party.

Univ of Chi Student: No, you are wrong, in Arizona we will throw him a parade and buy him a drink! Stay in the windy city my friend where your cops take money under the table.

" provided informatation" Hahahahahaha

Allison, this cop needs to be prosecuted as a murderer.

Horse@!$%#.

#1 - The headline "Grandpa-shooting Arizona officer" is calculated to generate sympathy for the so-called "victim." The word "Grandpa" conjures up a warm and fuzzy image of a Will Geer, Edgar Buchanan-type gentle old man. The guy was 50, for Christ's sake. That's not old. A 50-year-old with a gun can cause a @!$%#load of damage.

#2 - The 911 call said he was walking around the neighborhood brandishing a firearm. The neighbor said "He pulled a gun on us and cocked it." If the cops are pointing guns at you, you DON'T reach for a cell phone or anything else. It's "Yes, officer. No, officer. What can I do to make you feel at ease?"

#3 - The officer had previously been assigned to the SWAT team. and had killed people. What do you think the SWAT team is there for - to make nice?

#4. The fact that the guy had guns in his house is completely irrelevant. I imagine many Scottsdale residents have firearms. Like it or not, it's legal. It's what you do with your firearm that's relevant.

I repeat - Horse@!$%#.

Judas, assuming that you missed(?) my sarcasm, I was wondering about the police officer costing the city/county (regarding the other 5 people that he has shot. I read The Arizona Republic and the paper stated that the victim had turned to go back into the house and bent down to put the baby on the floor when the officer shot him in the head. He sounds kind of pricey to me.

It's the AZ air. That police officer WAS a SWAT term member. Wonder why he's off the team. Why don't police at the bottom, like at the legs? And if this police person was a SWAT, of course he could have aimed to not kill the grandfather. Sounds like a bad boy! One of that nasty Sheriff's boys.

Unless the people posting on this story have walked in a police officers shoes you have no idea of what went on in any of the shootings. Each and every day these officers put themselves in harms way and have to make split second decisions. There are way too many drugies and flakes running the streets these days. The officers had a report of this guy carrying a child and also carrying a weapon. Shame on him.

earthgirl, it does make one wonder doesn't it? At least it should.

SWAT cops are trained to shoot to kill. This "shooting to wound" bull@!$%# went out with the Lone Ranger.

Before you people jump to any conclusion, here is a link to John Loxas's facebook page where you can read about what he wrote about himself;

https://www.facebook.com/loxas2012/info

I'm actually impressed. 7 shots, 6 kills. Not a bad record.

Anyone who would stand up for this blood thirsty cop without looking at him as a bad guy first is an idiot. Cops are not "hero's" just because of what they do for a living. Hero's are made by personal heroic actions and believe me, the profession draws more than its share of creeped out, badge heavy, people that really should never be allowed to do the job.

I have never heard of any cop being involved in that many "kills"... but you had best believe that 99% of the time any Officer involved shooting is going to wind up being called "justified." Hell, the review are done by other cops and the theory of too many is that they can justify a cover up to because they believe that it is better than the harm that would come to their department! I hope the public someday wakes up and starts to take back some of the authority it has turned over to the police. As it is now days, our police are more like a military than a police force. And we criticize the rest of the world... Duh.

Hmmmmm, I was in the military and have 7 myself, am I a serial killer or a bad guy, or did I just do my job? You don't know, because you don't know me. For that matter, you don't know the officer involved and all you DO know is what MSNBC tells you. Give me a break; the guy earlier talking about armchair quarterbacks is right, you all know better than a professional(you think). Chumps and sheep; shame on you. Look in the mirror first before you point a finger or second guess.

@msgfromme:

Anyone who would stand up for this blood thirsty cop without looking at him as a bad guy first is an idiot.

So my guess is that you subscribe to the "guilty until proven innocent" school of justice?

as for this comment

but you had best believe that 99% of the time any Officer involved shooting is going to wind up being called "justified."

Maybe you don't realize that police commissions are made up of police and civilians. The civilians are there to make sure that the findings of any officer involved shooting are not biased for or against the officer.

I hope the public someday wakes up and starts to take back some of the authority it has turned over to the police

I agree with this, but...... who will do the policing when this happens? You? The guy next door? Do you think we normal citizens are equipped mentally and physically to do the jobs that these men and women do? Do you think you could do the job that ICE, FBI, the Military, Coast Guard does each and everyday? Do you really think that you have the stomach to arrive on a scene where a head is no longer attached to the body? Can you be objective if someone pulled a knife on your kid? Most of us do not have the fortitude to do the jobs that Police and others do. Yes, we need to get some control, but you can't hang each one that does something that you don't quite understand or have all the facts for.

Since when can people not read an article and understand exactly what is said. This officer shot and killed an unarmed man. No ands, ifs, or buts about it. He murdered an innocent man. Talking and analyzing is never going to change what happened. There is not a theorey that applies here. He murdered an innocent man. That not only is sad and immoral, it is illegal and he should be arrested and tried for a capital crime.

Its always easy to defend a nazi, isn't it? If supporters like G3 have anything to do with it, this guy will probably be promoted and receive a commendation from Arizona's furor-governor. Boycott Arizona. Too many crazies with guns and power.

msgfromme

Anyone who would stand up for this blood thirsty cop without looking at him as a bad guy first is an idiot.

Just as idiotic and childish to automatically assume he's a bad guy first. Or to paint all law enforcement with the same paranoid whining as you have.

Tanainke, First...name calling is childish. Your prejudice is evident in that you accuse me of being a nazi supporter? Grow up.

Explain where I support what happened. I never said I supported what happened, only that we need facts and that people are innocent until proven guilty. I also pointed out that police commissions are composed of both police and civilians. You and a few others are the one's jumping to conclusions without knowing all the facts.

So you think the cop is a Nazi and I'm a supporter of his? How wrong you are. One, I don't know if he's a Nazi, a white supremist or maybe someone of a multicultural background. It really doesn't matter what he looks like. What you fail to understand is that he was doing a job and we weren't there to witness all that happened. Not being witnesses, we are only dealing with hear-say evidence. As such, I have not formed an opinion on the cops guilt or innocence. I have not formed an opinion on grandpa's guilt or innocence. It is only you who has formed opinions on incomplete information.

Is that how you want our justice system? Everyone is found guilty based on incomplete or ill conceived notions of right and wrong?

if you feel you are so special to be able to judge others with incomplete evidence, then perhaps you need to step back into the middle ages and take part in the witch hunts in Europe and in Salem.

If anyone would like to look this article up on a different website, there are details available. First of all, Grandpa refused to come out of his house when asked by the police to do so. He was shot when he turned to reach back into the house for something. After the shooting, they found a gun tucked into the side of a chair a few feet from the door. I would say that the police were lucky that this man was shot, or the headline would read "3 police officers shot by Grandpa holding a baby". Do a little research before condemning this officer on what little details are in this article alone.

Stonecold- no one shoots guns out of perps hands outside of the movies. In NYC several cops shot a man at close range and only hit 11 out of 40 shots. But some can survive many shots. In 2006, Joseph Guzman survived 19 gunshot wounds during the 50-shot fusillade by police detectives.

He was a member of the SWAT team, Peters had been involved in the department's most dangerous assignments. This is like being one of only 2 people at work that can lift a 20lbs box, if the box breaks it wont be on the 12 that cant lift it. The call to police said the man had a gun and there was guns inside the suspects place. "We have a neighbor out here that pulled a gun on us," the caller said. "He's got a baby in his arms. He's got a gun, and he cocked it."

We where not there. Also some things that might seem innocent to civilians are ominous to LEOs. Next time you see someone pull up their pants look to see if they could reach to the small of their back where guns are often concealed. None of his kills as a SWAT team member should count against him as their job is to shoot bad guys. His SWAT training means he doesn't miss very often.

The guns inside the house where relevent as it backed up the callers claim.

Steveaaee - Maybe you misunderstood me, since your post basically agrees with what I've argued. You're right about things that might seem innocent to civilians. I recently watched a training video made by a Georgia (I think) LEO. He looked unarmed, but we could not believe all the weapons he had concealed on his person.

I like your 20-lb box analogy.

Ex Swat member. Probably a trained sniper. As soon as the door opened the crosshairs were on his forehead.

Regardless of aim. When he drops, who catches the kid? What if the gun misfired? There are a lot more factors in safety other than aim.

One more try. Trained sniper. These guys don't miss at close range. As for the child, the guy was shot in the head so he probably dropped the kid. Non issue. Misfired? Obviously not. I'm not defending his actions but in stress situations you don't have much time to think.

Sara in Texas.....justified shootings from what I've read. He was reported to have a gun in his hand....already had threatened neighbors. Another legit shooting.....if the gun misfires is a hypothetical argument. It didn't. We can't let crazies walk the streets, point cocked guns at citizens to include COPS.....with or without a child in their arms.

If ya don't like what he did talk to the local PD Chief and request that they change their policy on use of deadly force.

"Probably a trained sniper." So I'm guessing you made an assumption there, which I read the first time. Anyway, even a "probable trained sniper" can make a mistake. Instead of speculating, why don't we take a look at the other 5 people he has "justifiably" killed and figure out what necessitates the killing of 6 people over such a short time frame (a decade)? There are serial killers who kill less than that. Obviously the guy is good at "jumping the gun..." pun intended.

@RealJustice4all, I'm all for the use of deadly force; if you haven't noticed I'm from Texas. But does that mean I could claim you were going around threatening people with a weapon and the cops can go knock on your door and kill you "justifiably" too?

@Adam Henry, actually I work a full time job, am finishing up my second degree (not in homemaking! wow!) and I'm fully independent and pay my own bills (without the help of a MAN! Can you believe it?!

this crap about cops seeing something shiny and thinking its a gun is crap everybody carries cell phone now so a cop can shoot you and say oops a cop can pull their gun point it at you even if you had a gun you couldn't pull it out or lift it up fast enough to beat him if a cop shoots someone they better have a gun or they should lose their job

If a cop is pointing a gun at you, why would you need to pull out your cell phone?

You tell'em Sara.

Adam Henry - your comment to Sara was a typical sexist remark. Aren't you in the 20th century? Didn't thionk so.

RealJustice 4All - a cop should make darn sure the guy has a gun before he shoots. He DID NOT have one. Cops are too trigger happy in Arizona. This cop isn't the only one who had killed an unarmed man.

Bull. I carry legally and openly. If I'm stopped by a cop (traffic or whatever) it's MY responsibility to let the officer know I'm not a threat. That means both hands on the wheel, interior lights on at night, permit ready to show the officer.

Cops are too trigger happy in Arizona? I tell you what: YOU go into a situation where there's every chance an armed perpetrator might be looking to harm you. Think you might be a little extra-cautious? I know I would be.

Instead of blaming the cop, how about blaming the @!$%# that was walking around brandishing a gun at the neighbor(s)?

NewsJnky, I read the article in The Arizona Republic and it stated that the officer shot the victim in the head after he had turned to re enter the house. He was shot while he was placing the baby on the floor and the black object in his had turned out to be a cell phone which most people now days have glued to their hand.

Sara, Adam Henry is nothing but a slug.

@NewsJnky Thank you! And I agree that they should at least determine if he has a weapon or not... Even if he supposedly "appeared" to be armed, wouldn't you tase him first? Or perhaps shoot him in a nonlethal spot? A head shot is a little extreme!
@Allison I know my phone is glued to my hands pretty much always...

1. You shoot for the Center of mass (i.e. the Abdominal area), Those shots are sometimes lethal and it guaratees the threat is gone, there is no nonlethal spot you can reliably shoot (basically the notion of Shooting less lethal with an actual firearm is a crock of bullsh*t), the shot to the head might have been the result of the recoil pulling the gun upwards.

2. If someone supposedly has a gun, I wouldn't want to waltz up and tase him, because I might end up being the one with a new hole in my head.

3. If he is at a range where he needs to use a rifle, tasing is out of the question.

Sara in Texas......from Texas....hmmm, me to! Cops can't do anything to you if you are inside your home unless they have a Search Warrant. I suspect that wouldn't take long to get if you were reported by an E911 caller as having flashed a gun in public after a loud argument with others....with a small child in your arms. Then the SWAT folks would kick down your door but only after PD Psychologists tried to contact you to talk you out the front door w/o violence.

Lissette Martinez Should be fired and MSNBC should be sued for defamation of character. This Outstanding Officer is a hero and saved the life of a small child and probably others. From ABC News:

Sgt. Clark said the suspect was holding the child in his left arm in front of his upper body and face. The suspect then reached down to his right, lowering the baby and exposing his head and upper body. Officer Peters fired a single shot to the suspect's head. The suspect fell to the ground and the baby was rescued by officers. The suspect died instantly, according to Sgt Clark, and the baby was unharmed.

Inside the home, police say they found two loaded pistols, including one between the arm and cushion of a chair a few feet away from where the suspect fell. Police also told KPHO they had been to the same home in 2009 where the same man was also believed to have been waiving a gun at people.

"In this particular case we had someone the officers were confronting that had already pointed his pistol at at least two neighbors while he had a child in his arms, so there's a lot of factors that go into the decision to shoot - certainly the presence of a weapon is one of them or the perceived presence of a weapon," Clark said Wednesday morning.

Scottsdale police said Officer Peters has been investigated in all his previous shootings and it has been determined that he was justified in all of them.

You people who call him a "Redneck" and a "Murderer" are disgusting trash and idiots who make decisions in life before educating yourselves. You are what's wrong with the world today. Try NOT believing the first thing you read or hear for a change and do some investigation.

He is a good shot

Judas, one more time it's cheaper to get rid of him.

WHY would you want to get rid of him?? A well trained Swat officer with years of experience? All you cry babies that want to call him a Killer,We should charge him with Murder B.S. And all of the Afraid Of Guns people should be glad that we have guys like him on Our Side! It would take just 1 time for some bad guy to grab you and throw you in his car and start to drive off.You would Pray for someone like this officer to be close enough to get a clear shot. Yes! He has shot people before. He is a SWAT Member.They call officers like him to a scene where he may be needed where the only way to end the threat to someone Or a crowd of Hostages is to shoot to kill, Not hit him in the leg or foot where he would turn the gun on others. I respect him and all law enforcement officers who leave their families and put their lives on the line for us Everyday.

HEY KREDCORN! I think you have CORN for Brains! I bet you're one of thoose incredibly stupid rednecks that waste's time dreaming about killing a "bad man". Does it get you excited? Does it make you want to jump your old lady, Jerk? You guys are nothing but simple minded goons that want to show society that you're to be admired, when in fact, you are to be considered extreem social misfits that should be imprisoned. Go back to your surburban trailerpark and go seek the "Long Sleep". We'll all be better off with one less of you F**k Heads!

does it make you wza

JimL- you dont have to dream about bad men there are plenty out there. All of the kills the guy had while on the swat team shouldnt count against him as that is what SWAT does.

no one shoots guns out of perps hands outside of the movies. In NYC several cops shot a man at close range and only hit 11 out of 40 shots. But some can survive many shots. In 2006, Joseph Guzman survived 19 gunshot wounds during the 50-shot fusillade by police detectives.

He was a member of the SWAT team, Peters had been involved in the department's most dangerous assignments. This is like being one of only 2 people at work that can lift a 20lbs box, if the box breaks it wont be on the 12 that cant lift it. The call to police said the man had a gun and there was guns inside the suspects place. "We have a neighbor out here that pulled a gun on us," the caller said. "He's got a baby in his arms. He's got a gun, and he cocked it."

We where not there. Also some things that might seem innocent to civilians are ominous to LEOs. Next time you see someone pull up their pants look to see if they could reach to the small of their back where guns are often concealed. None of his kills as a SWAT team member should count against him as their job is to shoot bad guys. His SWAT training means he doesn't miss very often.

The guns inside the house where relevent as it backed up the callers claim.

You were there?

StoneCold, maybe just maybe david saint did what I did---read not just MSNBC's article but also The Arizona Republic's article, ok?

Actually it said nothing about him puting the baby down when they shot him..Read the story.

Scottsdale police officer fatally shoots man holding baby

by Liz Kotalik - Feb. 14, 2012 10:12 PM
The Arizona Republic- 12 News Breaking News Team

Scottsdale police fatally shot a man who was holding a baby on Tuesday night, officials said.

Around 6 p.m., Scottsdale police said they received a call from two people saying a man "pointed a gun in their faces" while carrying a baby in their neighborhood near 77th and Garfield streets.

Six officers arrived on scene and approached the man's home. The man met them at the front door with the baby still in his arms, and a confrontation occurred, Scottsdale police said. It is unknown whether the man was armed.

The officers said they felt threatened, and according to police, one bullet was fired by a veteran officer, and the man was killed.

Neither the officers nor the baby were injured, and the baby is now with family, police said.

Police believe the baby was the the man's grandchild, and they also said he has had previous altercations with neighbors.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/02/14/20120214scottsdale-officer-involved-shooting.html#ixzz1mbvUmObH

Here in Phoenix they said on the news that Loxas had bent down, maybe to put the baby down and he was shot in the back of the head with a rifle. I don't see that mentioned in this article, so maybe that wasn't true? In any case, Officer Peters had an extremely volatile career, it seems. He was a member of SWAT. That amount of stress takes it's toll on a person. A justified shooting doesn't mean it was the right call. Maybe he should have been reassigned earlier instead of just letting him get put in a situation in which it could happen over and over again. A tragedy all the way around.

Sounds like Arizona has a trigger happy person with a lust for killing who hides behind his badge to satisfy his blood lust.

Yeah, you never know when someone is going to hurl a baby at you.

so what shoot everyone they r there to help, help not murder happens too often sick sick

He could of had a bottle in his hand, I would rather take a bullet than kill an innocent person.

If the rules of engagement apply to our enemies they should at least belong to the people and the tax payers of this country, we obey the law because we want to, but if the law goes wild what do you think will happen.

MSpielman, never have I so agreed with a comment. He was reported by neighbors to have had a gun, and was witnessed cocking it. He answered the door, exactly as the neighbors described, with a baby in his arms. It was believed that he had something in his hands. Multiple weapons were found in the house... Interview the neighbors... I am willing to guarantee that someone screamed they were calling the police... He had time to return to the house, and drop the gun. One crazy that does not need to clog our court system... AND it does state in the story that he was a member of a SWAT team, and gets called in on all the bad cases... Justice is served... I honestly hope there is someone like this if I ever need the help...

thats crap if a cop thinks you may be armed he draws his gun a points it right at you nobody can move fast enough to beat his trigger finger

True - so keep your hands in plain sight and don't do anything to make the officer think you're a threat to him or anyone else.

When you think the suspect is armed? ,bull. I could call on a phone and say you were armed but it doesn't mean you were or are. Another officer thought he saw a gun? why didn't he shoot? No it was a buddy trying to make the shooting ok. A trained officer should see the weapon first. No matter how you look at it he murdered an unarmed man. Also did you notice how they stated that he had guns in the house. That is not against the law. That does not make you a felon or crazy.That quote should never been in the article.It had no bearing on the case what so ever. That was just a ploy to make this murder justifiable. We need good police officers out there not cowboys.

kat kerr davis - it's people like you that is the reason Casey Anthony got off. Don't bother to reply. I have heard it all. Yes, I do know the details of the story.

"Justice is served... I honestly hope there is someone like this if I ever need the help..."

OK, kat. Better just hope you aren't reaching for a breath mint when Johnny Law busts in.

None of us were there, so who knows. Maybe it was legitimately the prudent action to take in a split second, with a baby's life in the balance. But if this officer has killed 6 people now, seems equally prudent for someone outside his department to ask some serious questions as to whether he's leaning towards the "kill" option too often.

Art, after he put the baby down what he was left with in his hand was a cell phone.

I live in Scottsdale, and, frankly, I'm not surprised. The police keep a fairly tight lid on things, and that is more or less the way the citizenry likes it (after all, look at the county sheriff). For the most part, they're actually quite a good department. That said, this incident should be investigated (though in this state, I can pretty much tell you the outcome).

Let's start with the call into 911. Here we have a neighbor who just got into a non-violent (well, not for the trashcan), but highly emotional, altercation with the man. Who's to say, in the flush of anger, the neighbor didn't spice up the story a bit to get a quick police response....tell the dispatcher the guy has a gun? Now tell me the odds of some grandpa carrying his 9-month old grandchild around in one hand and a gun in the other? Unless he's some sicko like that Powell guy, which would not appear to be the case here, doesn't this just sound off the wall?

Of course the police have to take ultimate caution in situations where a firearm has been reported. But did the report say anything about shots being fired? No. I have to agree with the poster up above who mentioned the cellphone. I'm a grandpa, and I really have a problem with the thought that I could get into an argument with a neighbor, have that neighbor call the police, answer the door with my 9-month old granddaughter in my arms, and get shot in the head because John Wayne "thought" my Blackberry was a Glock. With no prior reports of gunshots, don't you think I'm entitled to the benefit of the doubt? Shouldn't I expect a policeman to think twice about the "danger" of a man holding a baby, when it was obvious no harm was being done to the child? I'm sorry, but this incident stinks. I cannot for the life of me see how this can in any way be justified. It flies in the face of Constitutional protections when you don't even get the chance to explain yourself. This is America, fer Chrissakes, not Iraq. Or has it all come home to roost?

Please - don't even become a cop. Just go out, shoot tin cans, and pretend they are the villain of your choice.

We need nut-cases such as this like a case of V.D.

Beatrix.....Your take on this is very close to mine.....the grandpa is going to take his grandchild on walk to threaten someone with a gun over a garbage can? Just doesn't add up. I'm not saying there isn't someone who might do that, but I believe you'd probably have to travel a long ways to find him. I even find the cell phone mistaken for a gun explanation a bit difficult to believe.....he's got a kid in his arms and opens the door with a cell phone in his hand? Maybe....but try it sometime....I don't think it would that easy to keep a cell phone hidden in that situation to the point it wasn't easily identifiable.

This whole thing stinks to me.

They figured out he was unarmed AFTER the fact.

If police get a call saying you are supposedly armed, they are going to assume you are possibly armed. He reached for his cell phone, when he could have been possibly reaching for a gun, the officer saw it as a threat, and neutralized the threat.

If he did turn out to have a gun, and he shot and killed someone, people would have been all over him for not doing his job.

The police are in a Damned-if-you-do, Damned-if-you-don't situation.

americanpie....checked you up by accident. The police are damned if you, damned if you don't? What situation is the grandfather in? There's the real question. I've gotta say this police officer has some serious explaining to do, as well as his superiors who have an officer with that kind of record. I'd like to know just what the record is for shootings by a single officer and where and under what circumstances they compiled it. Then I'd like to compare it to this officer. Heck...it may be that this officer holds the record.

Stonecold is absolutely right. If there is a cop at your door, why would you reach foor a cell phone. If it's already in your hand, you put it down BEFORE you open the door. You tell the cops you have a baby and show them the hand that is not holding the baby and somehow make sure you are telling the cops that you want to put the baby down.

He is also absolutely right about how to handle a traffic stop. Both hands on the wheel, visible to the officers.

do none of you have ANY reading comprehension skills at all? All the other shootings were justified, he worked in the SWAT unit which has the highest danger factor.

Police said that as a former member of the SWAT team, Peters had been involved in the department's most dangerous assignments and that all of the previous shootings had been found to be justified.

In the incident Tuesday, police were called to Loxas' home after a call to 911 reported that he had kicked over a trash can and threatened the owner when he complained. The caller said Loxas was walking around the neighborhood with his grandson and a weapon.

"We have a neighbor out here that pulled a gun on us," the caller said. "He's got a baby in his arms. He's got a gun, and he cocked it."

Peters and another officer told investigators they saw something in Loxas' hand, and when he turned, Peters fired a single shot, killing Loxas instantaneously

he had his back to the door, cops felt he had a gun and when he turned to face the door Peters fired.

and wtf is this 5 kills under his belt sh!t? they make it sound like he is a yahoo, NOT a Police Officer doing the job he is paid to do! Protecting us from the scum out there

Well Otter, like I said...We don't know all the facts. But 5 kills is VERY unusual. Justified? Who knows? There have been many a shady deal in many a police force. Just ask Serpico.

That is what investigations are for...to make sure things were done by the book, and uncover ANY wrongdoing. If the truth sets you free, then there should be no worries. But if somebody is using perps for target practice, then a Joe Q Taxpayer like me would like to be in the loop, and weed this guy out, before more damage is done.

Nobody likes bad news, but ignorance is very unhealthy. I prefer to deal with the devil I know.

"That is what investigations are for...to make sure things were done by the book, and uncover ANY wrongdoing"

Good point. But investigations are one thing, media lynchings for the sake of sensationalism are another.

otter54, since you've taken it upon yourself to question everyone else's reading comprehension, I have to point out to you that the article states as follows: "former member of the Swat team".

5 kills is a lot for a beat cop but not for a SWAT team member. Every kill he had as a SWAT team member was justified before he got sent to the scene.

Especially in Scottsdale Arizona, I bet this cop was involved in every fatal shooting in Scottsdale history.

He should not be a cop. Dumb *&^% Cannon, it is Scotsdale it is not the hood. Love guns, have lots of them but they don't make you bigger, tougher or stronger. The guy is not fit to be a cop.

There are places in Scottsdale that are "the hood" Mike. Just because it's "Scottsdale" doesn't make it all warm and cozy. So I guess we train our police to expert level and then let them go after one incident? What difference does it make how many if they are all justified? If I were in his position and thought the child or others might be in danger I would have done the same thing.

If you weren't there please don't offer an opinion based on rumor, especialy with the anti good guy spin from this site.

We need this guy in Special Forces, fighting in Kandahar.

Uncle B

you, sir, are a moron

do none of you have ANY reading comprehension skills at all? All the other shootings were justified, he worked in the SWAT unit which has the highest danger factor.

Police said that as a former member of the SWAT team, Peters had been involved in the department's most dangerous assignments and that all of the previous shootings had been found to be justified.

In the incident Tuesday, police were called to Loxas' home after a call to 911 reported that he had kicked over a trash can and threatened the owner when he complained. The caller said Loxas was walking around the neighborhood with his grandson and a weapon.

"We have a neighbor out here that pulled a gun on us," the caller said. "He's got a baby in his arms. He's got a gun, and he cocked it."

Peters and another officer told investigators they saw something in Loxas' hand, and when he turned, Peters fired a single shot, killing Loxas instantaneously

he had his back to the door, cops felt he had a gun and when he turned to face the door Peters fired.

and wtf is this 5 kills under his belt sh!t? they make it sound like he is a yahoo, NOT a Police Officer doing the job he is paid to do! Protecting us from the scum out there

7 shooting in 10 years now 6 deaths as a result.

Live by the sword, die by the sword. They better dump that cop fast before it's too late and some honest cops cath some bullets with his name on them. The Feds should have been looking at this preditator a long ago. I wonder who these people were who he, so called, justifiably shot and killed. We only know one thing at this point, and that is that he shot an unarmed man with a child in his arm. This alone is justifiable grounds for an external investigation and they should get a search warrant and run a fine comb through his belongings..

Every shooting before this was when he was on the SWAT team. The SWAT teams are only deployed under situation where killing crooks is justified

do none of you have ANY reading comprehension skills at all? All the other shootings were justified, he worked in the SWAT unit which has the highest danger factor.

Police said that as a former member of the SWAT team, Peters had been involved in the department's most dangerous assignments and that all of the previous shootings had been found to be justified.

In the incident Tuesday, police were called to Loxas' home after a call to 911 reported that he had kicked over a trash can and threatened the owner when he complained. The caller said Loxas was walking around the neighborhood with his grandson and a weapon.

"We have a neighbor out here that pulled a gun on us," the caller said. "He's got a baby in his arms. He's got a gun, and he cocked it."

Peters and another officer told investigators they saw something in Loxas' hand, and when he turned, Peters fired a single shot, killing Loxas instantaneously

he had his back to the door, cops felt he had a gun and when he turned to face the door Peters fired.

and wtf is this 5 kills under his belt sh!t? they make it sound like he is a yahoo, NOT a Police Officer doing the job he is paid to do! Protecting us from the scum out there

This cop IS the scum out there!

yeah and what if the baby was shot anyway he was an unarmed man

phideauzet - get a clue or a hobby? You're on here aren't you. Irregardless, 6 shootings in 10 years is a bit much. One fact that is known, the Guy was not armed when he came to the door. No one was standing in his yard but the police. Police are taught to bring down a guy by other means and shooting is the last resort. This cop is trigger happy and, yes, he should be looked into - thoroughly.

+1

Especialy when the headline starts with Grandpa-shooting etc. What an inflamatory headline. Most of the trolls bit.

phideauxe1, speaking of passing judgement are you? Unlike you some of us have followed this story in places and MSNBC. Broaden your news gathering skills ok?

"you walk back into your home your gonna get your head blown off?"

Easily avoided. Don't turn around and walk back into your home until the situation is resolved.

You need to behave if cops are pointing guns at you no quick action, no pulling your pants up, no chimping out & keep your hands where they can see them. No one shoots guns out of perps hands outside of the movies. In NYC several cops shot a man at close range and only hit 11 out of 40 shots. But some can survive many shots. In 2006, Joseph Guzman survived 19 gunshot wounds during the 50-shot fusillade by police detectives.

He was a member of the SWAT team, Peters had been involved in the department's most dangerous assignments. This is like being one of only 2 people at work that can lift a 20lbs box, if the box breaks it wont be on the 12 that cant lift it. The call to police said the man had a gun and there was guns inside the suspects place. "We have a neighbor out here that pulled a gun on us," the caller said. "He's got a baby in his arms. He's got a gun, and he cocked it."

We where not there. Also some things that might seem innocent to civilians are ominous to LEOs. Next time you see someone pull up their pants look to see if they could reach to the small of their back where guns are often concealed. None of his kills as a SWAT team member should count against him as their job is to shoot bad guys. His SWAT training means he doesn't miss very often.

The guns inside the house where relevent as it backed up the callers claim.

Really,
This pig had the guy in his sights seconds afterhe opened the door. He is a murder nothing less. The swat teams are suppose to have a commander. Who told him to take the shot? He murdered before and got away with it and chances are he will do it again. Real cowardly to draw down on an unarmed man..then kill hi in his home.

Justice for this small pig would be to set before a firing squad..

Jake, the victim was armed but with a baby and a cell phone.

"Would you leave this caring man's only daughter to raise the little boy alone? She's only 18."

Am I missing something here? What leads you to believe he's a "caring man?" I perceive him as a nut job threatening the neighbors.

Did he know the mother was only 18 (NO). This even justified will be with him the rest of his life, trust me it is with me on a daily basis.I have had to watch friends die and many, meny other people, don't judge until you have read entire reports, or have walked in their shoes.

Okay, Just for the sake of an argument, say the man was holding a weapon. Why shoot to kill? Why not shoot him in the knee or shoulder. This experience police officer is an idiot that only cares about making a kill. That baby could have died because of his actions. If the man was shot in the shoulder, there would have been no doubt whether he was arm or not. This police office has no regard for human life.

mimi from the Bronx: If you know anything about guns (and if you're from the Bronx, I assume you do), you know that police are trained to shoot to kill. It's not like the movies - someone shot in the arm or leg can still fight back, especially if they're high on PCP. My training (admittedly not as intense as police training) emphasized: Two shots to center mass (easiest target, usually) and one to the head.

Stone, exactly when and where did you attend the police academy, graduate and become a police officer?

Allison - never did, and I'm not a police officer. But I am a member of a law enforcement auxiliary unit, and took the same firearms qualification as the PD. And I've been through several firearms training courses, but as I said before: not as intensive as police training. I'm not a police officer, nor have I ever claimed to be one. Doesn't mean I don't respect them and the job they do.

Hope one is someone you love.

trash

compost

The odds of any cop [especially one living in Scottsdale Arizona, a town of about 200 thousand!] being a shooter involving this many fatalities has got to be millions to 1! I bet if you asked any of his best buds and they told the truth, they'd tell you he really gets off on on being known as some sort of modern day Wyatt Earp!

you sir are a moron

do none of you have ANY reading comprehension skills at all? All the other shootings were justified, he worked in the SWAT unit which has the highest danger factor.

Police said that as a former member of the SWAT team, Peters had been involved in the department's most dangerous assignments and that all of the previous shootings had been found to be justified.

In the incident Tuesday, police were called to Loxas' home after a call to 911 reported that he had kicked over a trash can and threatened the owner when he complained. The caller said Loxas was walking around the neighborhood with his grandson and a weapon.

"We have a neighbor out here that pulled a gun on us," the caller said. "He's got a baby in his arms. He's got a gun, and he cocked it."

Peters and another officer told investigators they saw something in Loxas' hand, and when he turned, Peters fired a single shot, killing Loxas instantaneously

he had his back to the door, cops felt he had a gun and when he turned to face the door Peters fired.

and wtf is this 5 kills under his belt sh!t? they make it sound like he is a yahoo, NOT a Police Officer doing the job he is paid to do! Protecting us from the scum out there

Otter, I own the Brooklyn Bridge, would you like to buy it?

I sure hope that none of you idiots that are making comments about firing this officer or putting him in jail or a buch of the other thngs you want to do to him ever sit on a jury. You have convicted this guy with the only information coming from a writer that uses the headline "Granpa shooting Arizona officer has five previous kills under his belt". As some have said this guy was a SWAT officer for many years and all of his shootings have been found justified. He gets called to this scene with the information being that he was checking on a man carrying a child and had a pistol that he had the weapon cocked. You give that information to an officer and when he approaches the door and the guy opens the door with the kid in his arms and someone says he saw something in his hand, I would also say he is going to get shot. All you people against this officer I have to wonder if the guy did have a gun and the kid was shot what would you be saying then? The cop knew this man had a gun and you allowed him to shoot the kid, why didn't you shoot him when he opened the door, geez someone sadi he had something in his hand". A bunch of hind-sight people that are always perfect....must be nice. Make that decision without knowing the outcome you sad excuse.

In the referenced 2010 article (link in this article), Peters had been involved in five shootings, four of which were fatal. He had been a Scottsdale police officer for ten years at that time (approximately 12 years of service now). In 2010, he was involved in the most officer shootings (5) and had the most kills (4) of all police officers in the state of Arizona. Since then, he has killed (at least) two more people, and god knows how many shootings he has been involved in. Certainly he maintains his top position in the state of Arizona for both categories as of today. Meanwhile the city of Scottsdale accounts for less crime and less violent crime than all but one of the adjacent jurisdictions, and over 72% of reported crimes are thefts - the total number of murders, rapes, robberies, assaults and arsons reported in Scottsdale in 2010 was 365. The violent crime index in Scottsdale that year was 84.5, compared to the national average of 222.7. Neighboring Phoenix, Tempe and Glendale were nearly 100 points over the national average that same year. Yet no officer in any of those jurisdictions has accumulated as many shootings or fatalities as Peters has in the past 12 years. All these stats say that Peters is a rogue killer operating in a resistance-free kill zone. And he obviously has the support of his superiors or he would have faced discipline or re-training by now.

Excellent post with supporting information...good job, Dean.

Yes, that is the problem, cops now days shoot first and ask questions later and many more cops have killed more people than people have killed cops and dead men tell no tales, innocent or guilty it doesn't matter to them, they know they won't be held responsible. This "Cop" will kill again.

"This rogue cop must be a Repuke"

Oh, here we go again with the political bull@!$%#. What the hell does the cop's political affiliation have to do with the issue? And the term "Repuke" - wow, that's clever. Think that up yourself?

Really Bob? what the #$%^&^ does being a Republican or Democrat have to do with this? It drives me crazy when idiots like you have to drag politics into EVERY SINGLE news story. Now you're gonna tell me this was Bush's fault right???

I wonder if you might just think he is not so good nor you so lucky if he shot one of your family? One you still communicate with as I image there are more than a few that want nothing to do with you Charlie.

My idea of SWAT team member is a highly train person with much skill. Not a yahoo that shoots at the thought of a gun. We don't know if there ever was a gun or a threat. Just a neighbors word who had his trash can kicked over. Get real folks to shoot a felon is one thing but to shoot a man with a baby without seeing a gun or any danger to the baby is way out of line. I know that there are split second decisions to make. However there was no and I repeat no danger or threat present when he shot. I was taught to ask yourself one question. If I don't shoot is someone going to die? If the answer is yes shoot if not don't shoot wait. And yes I know you may have to asked yourself that question again in a few minutes. But you don't shoot unarmed people because your scared or you think he's armed. If you can't do that . don't be a police officer.

so what your saying its ok to murder someone because they might hurt someone else, or think about it or coincidently own a gun in your house in a country where it is our right to bear arms! Shoot every one with a gun or a home or a grandchild and it least two of the above, all you need is one angry neigbor

How about the fact we live in a free society and our free will can be excersized at any time and that is a scary thought because people could hurt someone and all we can do as a society is punish those that abuse their privilige and that my friend is freedom, real down to earth, arm bearing freedom, obviously this officer would strip our rights, lock up any and all that may or may not agree with his power to shoot down even and unarmed person and then say, woulda, shoulda, coulda!

The grandpa was a crazy man! He was walking around the neighborhood threatening people with a gun WHILE HOLDING HIS GRANDBABY! Hmmmm, I think I'd rather have him dead than have him kill a truly innocent neighbor. This police officer in question has a family too that he has to think about with every move he makes. Why don't read the articles for every other shooting he was involved in. I'm glad those people are no longer around. Thank you officer Peters for serving and protecting your community. For all you police haters out there. I would LOVE to see you try to do their job on their pay for one day. Instead you sit there in your comfortable home passing judgement and you have know idea what our police officers go through to PROTECT YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.

It's not nice to call people idiots and morons, and it's against the CoH to do that to your fellow Viners, no matter how much you disagree.

Maybe the cop should have licked Grandpa's a!! and said please put the child down and please don't shoot any cops that have responded to protect the neighbors and the baby. If I was to walk around with my grandson and a gun threating the neighbors, I hope a cop shoots me. I am glad alot of you are not cops that I would expect to protect my grandson in that situation.

golliegeewillikers, I'm here also and it's scarey isn't it?